Master of Business Administration- MBA Semester 3 MB0050 Research Methodology - 4 Credits (Book ID: B1206) Assignment Set - 1 (60

0 Marks) Note: Each question carries 10 Marks. Answer all the questions. 1. Define Research. What are the features and types of Research? Answer: According to Mr. Young, Research can be defined as a scientific undertaking which, by means of logical and systematic techniques, aims to: (a) Discover of new facts or verify and test old facts, (b) Analyze their sequences, interrelationships and causal explanations, (c) Develop new scientific tools, concepts and theories which would facilitate reliable and valid study of human behaviour. (d) Kerlinger defines research as a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena. According to the intent, research may be classified as: Pure Research: It is undertaken for the sake of knowledge without any intention to apply it in practice, e.g., Einsteins theory of relativity, Newtons contributions, Galileos contribution, etc. It is also known as basic or fundamental research. It is undertaken out of intellectual curiosity or inquisitiveness. It is not necessarily problem-oriented. It aims at extension of knowledge. It may lead to either discovery of a new theory or refinement of an existing theory. It lays foundation for applied research. It offers solutions to many practical problems. It helps to find the critical factors in a practical problem. It develops many alternative solutions and thus enables us to choose the best solution. Applied Research: It is carried on to find solution to a real-life problem requiring an action or policy decision. It is thus problem-oriented and action-directed. It seeks an immediate and practical result, e.g., marketing research carried on for developing a news market or

for studying the post-purchase experience of customers. Though the immediate purpose of an applied research is to find solutions to a practical problem, it may incidentally contribute to the development of theoretical knowledge by leading to the discovery of new facts or testing of theory or o conceptual clarity. It can put theory to the test. It may aid in conceptual clarification. It may integrate previously existing theories. Exploratory Research: It is also known as formulative research. It is preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem about which the researcher has little or no knowledge. It is ill-structured and much less focused on pre-determined objectives. It usually takes the form of a pilot study. The purpose of this research may be to generate new ideas, or to increase the researchers familiarity with the problem or to make a precise formulation of the problem or to gather information for clarifying concepts or to determine whether it is feasible to attempt the study. Katz conceptualizes two levels of exploratory studies. At the first level is the discovery of the significant variable in the situations; at the second, the discovery of relationships between variables. Descriptive Study: It is a fact-finding investigation with adequate interpretation. It is the simplest type of research. It is more specific than an exploratory research. It aims at identifying the various characteristics of a community or institution or problem under study and also aims at a classification of the range of elements comprising the subject matter of study. It contributes to the development of a young science and useful in verifying focal concepts through empirical observation. It can highlight important methodological aspects of data collection and interpretation. The information obtained may be useful for prediction about areas of social life outside the boundaries of the research. They are valuable in providing facts needed for planning social action program. Diagnostic Study: It is similar to descriptive study but with a different focus. It is directed towards discovering what is happening, why it is happening and what can be done about. It aims at identifying the causes of a problem and the possible solutions for it. It may also be concerned with discovering and testing whether certain variables are associated. This type of research requires prior knowledge of the problem, its thorough formulation, clear-cut definition of the given population, adequate methods for collecting accurate information, precise measurement of variables, statistical analysis and test of significance.

Evaluation Studies: It is a type of applied research. It is made for assessing the effectiveness of social or economic programmes implemented or for assessing the impact of developmental projects on the development of the project area. It is thus directed to assess or appraise the quality and quantity of an activity and its performance, and to specify its attributes and conditions required for its success. It is concerned with causal relationships and is more actively guided by hypothesis. It is concerned also with change over time. Action Research: It is a type of evaluation study. It is a concurrent evaluation study of an action programme launched for solving a problem for improving an exiting situation. It includes six major steps: diagnosis, sharing of diagnostic information, planning, developing change programme, initiation of organizational change, implementation of participation and communication process, and post experimental evaluation. According to the methods of study, research may be classified as: Experimental Research: It is designed to asses the effects of particular variables on a phenomenon by keeping the other variables constant or controlled. It aims at determining whether and in what manner variables are related to each other. Analytical Study: It is a system of procedures and techniques of analysis applied to quantitative data. It may consist of a system of mathematical models or statistical techniques applicable to numerical data. Hence it is also known as the Statistical Method. It aims at testing hypothesis and specifying and interpreting relationships. Historical Research: It is a study of past records and other information sources with a view to reconstructing the origin and development of an institution or a movement or a system and discovering the trends in the past. It is descriptive in nature. It is a difficult task; it must often depend upon inference and logical analysis or recorded data and indirect evidences rather than upon direct observation. Survey: It is a fact-finding study. It is a method of research involving collection of data directly from a population or a sample thereof at particular time. Its purpose is to provide information, explain phenomena, to make comparisons and concerned with cause and effect relationships can be useful for making predications 2. How is a research problem formulated? What are the sources from which one may be able to identify research problems?

Answer: The selection of one appropriate researchable problem out of the identified problems requires evaluation of those alternatives against certain criteria, which may be grouped into: Internal Criteria : 1) Researchers interest: The problem should interest the researcher and be a challenge to him. Without interest and curiosity, he may not develop sustained perseverance. Even a small difficulty may become an excuse for discontinuing the study. Interest in a problem depends upon the researchers educational background, experience, outlook and sensitivity. 2) Researchers competence: A mere interest in a problem will not do. The researcher must be competent to plan and carry out a study of the problem. He must have the ability to grasp and deal with int. he must possess adequate knowledge of the subject-matter, relevant methodology and statistical procedures. 3) Researchers own resource: In the case of a research to be done by a researcher on his won, consideration of his own financial resource is pertinent. If it is beyond his means, he will not be able to complete the work, unless he gets some external financial support. Time resource is more important than finance. Research is a timeconsuming process; hence it should be properly utilized. External Criteria 1) Research-ability of the problem: The problem should be researchable, i.e., amendable for finding answers to the questions involved in it through scientific method. To be researchable a question must be one for which observation or other data collection in the real world can provide the answer. 2) Importance and urgency: Problems requiring investigation are unlimited, but available research efforts are very much limited. Therefore, in selecting problems for research, their relative importance and significance should be considered. An important and urgent problem should be given priority over an unimportant one. 3) Novelty of the problem: The problem must have novelty. There is no use of wasting ones time and energy on a problem already studied thoroughly by others. This does not mean that replication is always needless. In social sciences in some cases, it is appropriate to replicate (repeat) a study in order to verify the validity of its findings to a different situation. 4) Feasibility: A problem may be a new one and also important, but if research on it is not feasible, it cannot be selected. Hence feasibility is a very important consideration.

5) Facilities: Research requires certain facilities such as well-equipped library facility, suitable and competent guidance, data analysis facility, etc. Hence the availability of the facilities relevant to the problem must be considered. 6) Usefulness and social relevance: Above all, the study of the problem should make significant contribution to the concerned body of knowledge or to the solution of some significant practical problem. It should be socially relevant. This consideration is particularly important in the case of higher level academic research and sponsored research. 7) Research personnel: Research undertaken by professors and by research organizations require the services of investigators and research officers. But in India and other developing countries, research has not yet become a prospective profession. Hence talent persons are not attracted to research projects. Each identified problem must be evaluated in terms of the above internal and external criteria and the most appropriate one may be selected by a research scholar. Frequently, an exploratory study is concerned with an area of subject matter in which explicit hypothesis have not yet been formulated. The researchers task then is to review the available material with an eye on the possibilities of developing hypothesis from it. In some areas of the subject matter, hypothesis may have been stated by previous research workers. The researcher has to take stock of these various hypotheses with a view to evaluating their usefulness for further research and to consider whether they suggest any new hypothesis. Sociological journals, economic reviews, the bulletin of abstracts of current social sciences research, directory of doctoral dissertation accepted by universities etc afford a rich store of valuable clues. In addition to these general sources, some governmental agencies and voluntary organizations publish listings of summaries of research in their special fields of service. Professional organizations, research groups and voluntary organizations are a constant source of information about unpublished works in their special fields. 3. What are the types of Observations? What is the utility of Observation in Business Research? Answer: Observations may be classified in different ways. With reference to investigators role, it may be classified into Participant observation and Non-participant observation.

In terms of mode of observation, it may be classified into Direct observation. Indirect observation

With reference to the rigor of the system adopted. Observation is classified into Controlled observation, and Uncontrolled observation

1. Participant Observation In this observation, the observer is a part of the phenomenon or group which is observed and he acts as both an observer and a participant. For example, a study of tribal customs by an anthropologist by taking part in tribal activities like folk dance. The persons who are observed should not be aware of the researchers purpose. Then only their behaviour will be natural. The concealment of research objective and researchers identity is justified on the ground that it makes it possible to study certain aspects of the groups culture which are not revealed to outsiders. Advantages: The advantages of participant observation are: The observer can understand the emotional reactions of the observed group, and get a deeper insight of their experiences. The observer will be able to record context which gives meaning to the observed behaviour and heard statements.

Disadvantages: Participant observation suffers from some demerits. The participant observer narrows his range of observation. For example, if there is a hierarchy of power in the group/community under study, he comes to occupy one position within in, and thus other avenues of information are closed to him. To the extent that the participant observer participates emotionally, the objectivity is lost. Another limitation of this method is the dual demand made on the observer. Recording can interfere with participation, and participation can interfere with observation. Recording on the spot is not possible and it has to be postponed until the observer is alone. Such time lag results in some inaccuracy in recording

2. Non-participant observations In this method, the observer stands apart and does not participate in the phenomenon observed. Naturally, there is no emotional involvement on the part of the observer. This method calls for skill in recording observations in an unnoticed manner.

3. Direct observation This means observation of an event personally by the observer when it takes place. This method is flexible and allows the observer to see and record subtle aspects of events and behaviour as they occur. He is also free to shift places, change the focus of the observation. A limitation of this method is that the observers perception circuit may not be able to cover all relevant events when the latter move quickly, resulting in the incompleteness of the observation. 4. Indirect observation This does not involve the physical presence of the observer, and the recording is done by mechanical, photographic or electronic devices, e.g. recording customer and employee movements by a special motion picture camera mounted in a department of a large store. This method is less flexible than direct observations, but it is less biasing and less erratic in recording accuracy. It is also provides a permanent record for an analysis of different aspects of the event. 5. Controlled observation This involves standardization of observational techniques and exercises of maximum control over extrinsic and intrinsic variables by adopting experimental design and systematically recording observations. Controlled observation is carried out either in the laboratory or in the field. It is typified by clear and explicit decisions on what, how and when to observe. 6. Uncontrolled observation This does not involve control over extrinsic and intrinsic variables. It is primary used for descriptive research. Participant observation is a typical uncontrolled one. Observation is suitable for a variety of research purposes. It may be used for studying: (a) The behaviour of human beings in purchasing goods and services.: life style, customs, and manner, interpersonal relations, group dynamics, crowd behaviour, leadership styles, managerial style, other behaviours and actions; (b) The behaviour of other living creatures like birds, animals etc. (c) Physical characteristics of inanimate things like stores, factories, residences etc. (d) Flow of traffic and parking problems (e) Movement of materials and products through a plant. 4. What is Research Design? What are the different types of Research Designs?

5. Explain the Sampling Process and briefly describe the methods of Sampling.

6. What is a Research Report? What are the contents of Research Report? ANSWER: For whatever research you intend to do in your law enforcement profession, always plan to record enough information so that people outside of your agency can understand and interpret what youre researching, why, and how.

Title Page (name of the agency, product, program, or service that is being researched; date) Table of Contents Executive Summary recommendations) (one-page, concise overview of findings and

Purpose of the Report (what type of research was conducted, what decisions are being aided by the findings of the research, who is making the decision, etc.) Background About Agency/Product/Service/Program that is being researched a) Organization Description/History b) Product/Service/Program Description (that is being researched) i) Problem Statement ii) Overall Goal(s) of Product/Service/Program iii) Outcomes (or client/customer impacts) and Performance Measures (that can be measured as indicators toward the outcomes) iv) Activities/Technologies of the Product/Service/Program (general description of how the product/service/program is developed and delivered) v) Staffing (description of the number of personnel and roles in the organization that are relevant to developing and delivering the product/service/program)

Overall Evaluation Goals (what questions are being answered by the research?) Methodology a) Types of data/information that were collected b) How data/information were collected (what instruments were used, etc.) c) How data/information were analyzed

d) Limitations of the evaluation (cautions about findings/conclusions and how to use the findings/conclusions, etc.)

Interpretations and Conclusions (from analysis of the data/information) Recommendations (regarding the decisions that must be made about the results) Appendices (content of the appendices depends on the goals of the research report) a) Instruments used to collect data/information b) Data (tabular format, etc.) c) Testimonials, comments made by users of the product/service/program d) Case studies of users of the product/service/program e) Any related literature MB0050 Research Methodology - 4 Credits (Book ID: B1206) Assignment Set - 2 (60 Marks) Note: Each question carries 10 Marks. Answer all the questions.

1. Differentiate between nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scales with an example of each. Answer: 1. Nominal measurement This level of measurement consists in assigning numerals or symbols to different categories of a variable. The example of male and female applicants to an MBA program mentioned earlier is an example of nominal measurement. The numerals or symbols are just labels and have no quantitative value. The number of cases under each category are counted. Nominal measurement is therefore the simplest level of measurement. It does not have characteristics such as order, distance or arithmetic origin.

2. Ordinal measurement In this level of measurement, persons or objects are assigned numerals which indicate ranks with respect to one or more properties, either in ascending or descending order. Example

Individuals may be ranked according to their socio-economic class, which is measured by a combination of income, education, occupation and wealth. The individual with the highest score might be assigned rank 1, the next highest rank 2, and so on, or vice versa. The numbers in this level of measurement indicate only rank order and not equal distance or absolute quantities. This means that the distance between ranks 1 and 2 is not necessarily equal to the distance between ranks 2 and 3. Ordinal scales may be constructed using rank order, rating and paired comparisons. Variables that lend themselves to ordinal measurement include preferences, ratings of organizations and economic status. Statistical techniques that are commonly used to analyze ordinal scale data are the median and rank order correlation coefficients. 3. Interval measurement This level of measurement is more powerful than the nominal and ordinal levels of measurement, since it has one additional characteristic equality of distance. However, it does not have an origin or a true zero. This implies that it is not possible to multiply or divide the numbers on an interval scale. Example The Centigrade or Fahrenheit temperature gauge is an example of the interval level of measurement. A temperature of 50 degrees is exactly 10 degrees hotter than 40 degrees and 10 degrees cooler than 60 degrees. Since interval scales are more powerful than nominal or ordinal scales, they also lend themselves to more powerful statistical techniques, such as standard deviation, product moment correlation and t tests and F tests of significance. 4. Ratio measurement This is the highest level of measurement and is appropriate when measuring characteristics which have an absolute zero point. This level of measurement has all the three characteristics order, distance and origin. Examples Height, weight, distance and area. Since there is a natural zero, it is possible to multiply and divide the numbers on a ratio scale. Apart from being able to use all the statistical techniques that are used with the nominal, ordinal and interval scales, techniques like the geometric mean and coefficient of variation may also be used. The main limitation of ratio measurement is that it cannot be used for characteristics such as leadership quality, happiness, satisfaction and other properties which do not have natural zero points.

The different levels of measurement and their characteristics may be summed up. In the table below Levels measurement Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio of Characteristics No order, distance or origin Order, but no distance or origin Both order and distance, but no origin Order, distance and origin

2. What are the types of Hypothesis? Explain the procedure for testing Hypothesis. Answer: As mentioned previously, a hypothesis is a tool of quantitative studies. It is a tentative and formal prediction about the relationship between two or more variables in the population being studied, and the hypothesis translates the research question into a prediction of expected outcomes. Soa hypothesis is a statement about the relationship between two or more variables that we set out to prove or disprove in our research. study. To be complete the hypothesis must include three components:

The variables. The population. The relationship between the variables.

A hypothesis should be:

stated clearly using appropriate terminology; testable; a statement of relationships between variables; limited in scope (focused).

Examples of a hypothesis are:

Health Education programmes influence the number of people who smoke. Newspapers affect people's voting pattern. Attendance at lectures influences exam marks.

Diet influences intelligence.

Types of hypotheses There are different types of hypotheses:

Simple hypothesis - this predicts the relationship between a single independent variable (IV) and a single dependent variable (DV)

For example:

Lower levels of exercise postpartum (IV) will be associated with greater weight retention (DV).

NB.

IV = independent variable D V = dependent variable

Complex hypothesis - this predicts the relationship between two or more independent variables and two or more dependent variables. 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Case Study Method? How is Case Study method useful to Business Research? Answer: Case studies allow people to examine individuals and groups in greater depth than other method. Triangulation can assist this, because it means using different sources of information to build a better and more extensive picture. For instance, an observation could take place, then a questionnaire, an interview, and examination of medical records, and even an experiment. But not necessarily everything. However, with triangulation, the data may not all correspond, but one looks for intances where it does. Furthermore, it is very easy to lose track of the case, and be steered off course. For example, is it an individual in a group, the group, or the organisation that one is focusing on and what is the reason for this. Case studies are very hard to do, time consuming, and difficult to analyse and write up: as it is mostly qualititative research. Like all research methods, they are subject to bias (people put a lot of attention into one thing and this influences the results). 4. What are the Primary and Secondary sources of Data?

Answer: Primary data is data, which is collected by the researcher themselves. This kind of data is new, original research information. Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened and is hands on. A primary source reflects the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer. Primary sources are first-hand information from a person who witnessed or participated in an event. Examples of primary data are: * Interviews * Questionnaires *Observations Secondary research is using information that has already been produced by other people. A secondary source is used by a person usually not present at the event and relying on primary source documents for information. Secondary sources usually analyse and interpret. Finding out about research that already exits will help form new research. Examples of secondary data: Internet Books/ Magazines Newspapers Office statistics The government statistics service The office of national statistics Centre for applied social surveys The distinctions between primary and secondary sources can be ambiguous. An individual document may be a primary source in one context and a secondary source in another. Time is a defining element. For example, a recent newspaper article is not usually a primary source; but a newspaper article from the 1860's may be a primary source for civil war research. 5. Differentiate between Schedules and Questionnaire. What are the alternative modes of sending Questionnaires?

Answer: A questionnaire is quite different from a schedule; a questionnaire will feature a series of queries which must be answered by a person, whereas a schedule is a listing ofevents and meetings over a defined period. A questionnaire may also be called a survey, and it is used to collect information about specific subjects. Often, aquestionnaire may be used for the following purposes: Reasons To Use A Questionnaire Marketing Campaigns - Commonly, marketing executives will use questionnaires to get valuable feedback from customers or potential clients. By getting answers to questions that pertain to a business concern or market sub-segment, marketing executives can prepare timely and relevant ad campaigns that meet the needs of their target demographic. Sometimes, marketing executives will pay people to fill outquestionnaires. At other times, these will be filled out voluntarily, for no compensation. Healthcare - In clinics or hospitals, patients seeking healthcare are often asked to fill out questionnaires that outline their medical histories, habits, and needs. These sorts of questionnaires allow medical professionals to achieve accurate diagnoses, and todesign courses of treatment that are safe and effective. Reasons For Using Schedules Organization - A schedule can be an essential component of time management; for example, knowing what is happening during a weekly, biweekly, or monthly period will allow a person to plan ahead and be prepared for every circumstance. Without aschedule, appointments may be forgotten, or important events may be missed. Goal Setting - By analysing a schedule, a person can determine whether or not they are moving closer to his or her goals. For example, if a person wants to get fitter, he or she can track their workouts via a schedule, and record results based on the success of their regimen over time. Questionnaires and schedules are different; each services a unique purposes and an individual function. 6. Explain the various steps in processing of Data.
Answer: Data is an integral part of all business processes. It is the invisible backbone that supports all the operations and activities within a business. Without access to relevant data, businesses would get completely paralyzed. This is because quality data helps formulate effective business strategies and fruitful business decisions. Therefore, the quality of data should be maintained in good condition in order to facilitate smooth business proceedings. In order to enhance business proceedings, data should be made available in all possible forms in order to increase the accessibility of the same.

Data processing refers to the process of converting data from one format to another. It transforms plain data into valuable information and information into data. Clients can supply data in a variety of forms, be it .xls sheets, audio devices, or plain printed material. Data processing services take the raw data and process it accordingly to produce sensible information. The various applications of data processing can convert raw data into useful information that can be used further for business processes. Companies and organizations across the world make use of data processing services in order to facilitate their market research interests. Data consists of facts and figures, based on which important conclusions can be drawn. When companies and organizations have access to useful information, they can utilize it for strategizing powerful business moves that would eventually increase the company revenue and decrease the costs, thus expanding the profit margins. Data processing ensures that the data is presented in a clean and systematic manner and is easy to understand and be used for further purposes. Here are the 5 steps that are included in data processing: Editing There is a big difference between data and useful data. While there are huge volumes of data available on the internet, useful data has to be extracted from the huge volumes of the same. Extracting relevant data is one of the core procedures of data processing. When data has been accumulated from various sources, it is edited in order to discard the inappropriate data and retain relevant data. Coding Even after the editing process, the available data is not in any specific order. To make it more sensible and usable for further use, it needs to be aligned into a particular system. The method of coding ensures just that and arranges data in a comprehendible format. The process is also known as netting or bucketing. Data Entry After the data has been properly arranged and coded, it is entered into the software that performs the eventual cross tabulation. Data entry professionals do the task efficiently. Validation After the cleansing phase, comes the validation process. Data validation refers to the process of thoroughly checking the collected data to ensure optimal quality levels. All the accumulated data is double checked in order to ensure that it contains no inconsistencies and is utterly relevant. Tabulation This is the final step in data processing. The final product i.e. the data is tabulated and arranged in a systematic format so that it can be further analyzed. All these processes make up the complete data processing activity which ensures the said data is available for access.